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Sheer magic
A matter of moustaches
PACESETTER: Sreeranjini
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Sheer magic
When
Deepika Padukone walked down the red carpet for the 59th Filmfare award ceremony in a sheer embellished gold-hued gown by designer Gaurav Gupta, one could anticipate the mood of designers and their trends for 2014. Sheer fabrics ruled the roost at the recent Lakme Fashion Week, scores of designers showcased their creations — gowns, dresses, sarees, tunics, jackets etc. — in sheers of all hues and designs. Designers like Manish Malhotra, Kiram Uttam Ghosh, SS Surya, Shantanu & Nikhil, Shehla Khan, Atithi Gupta, Sonakshi Raaj, Anju Modi, Anita Dongre, Sonam & Paras Modi and hordes of others used this fabric either fully or in some detail or other in their creations. Internationally, too, every fashion house and designers showcasing at New York, London, Paris and Milan seemed to have rediscovered their fascination for sheer fabric. About the reincarnation of the sheer, designer Poonam Bajaj says, "The idea is to be comfortable in your own skin — while showing a little bit of it. The fabric is quite ultra-thin and semi-transparent, and has become one of the hottest fashion trends for 2014." Some designers use it as an embellishment to their designs whereas others use it to make bold statements. Manish Malhotra has used it quite romantically on long sleeves where as SS Surya has used it boldly for the entire garment. Some like Anju Modi used it with embroidery on brocade lining on long full-bodied gown worn by Mallaika Arora Khan. Talking about the new-found love for this fabric designer Ekta Dhingra, of Rabha's says, "This is because of the texture and translucent look of the fabric. Earlier women, who were not comfortable putting on backless dresses, now choose the safe and substitute way of wearing these with sheers.'' What makes this fabric a favourite among designers is that it is an all-season and event garment. Sheer fabrics are also a good combination for another trend of the season — layering. Layering of either ethnic or Western attire looks ethereally beautiful when topped with sheer fabric. A simple salwar-kameez can look beautiful when worn under a sheer long jacket!
Or layering white or cream sheer linen knit top with a navy striped camisole underneath for a daytime look can make you a trend setter. Same goes for see-through skirts and dresses: wear a shorter solid slip underneath. For parties and occasions, go for sheer, chiffon blouses dressed up with dress pants and stilettos, or keep it casual with a long tank top and leggings. Pairing a white sheer shirt with a black, lacy, tank top and black pants gives you a suggestive silhouette with a classy twist — perfect for the office or for a night in the town. Young designer Abdul Haider says: "Summer-wear can look quite sexy by covering cotton or silk lining attire with either by Chantilly lace, wispy chiffons or tulle.'' Depending on the occasion, different types of sheer can be used. These can be printed (at present mosaic and batik prints are hot), self designs or botanical embroidered. Sheer detailing is more about rich reds, shades of white or subtle pastels. These are either worked into the design of sheer print or material stitched hand woven into the main fabric. Poonam suggests, "Silk, satin, chiffon, georgette all can be used for lining under sheer clothes but there should be a balance between opaque and sheer. Too much of either opaque or sheer doesn't always work." Sheers can also used in panels. A layer of translucent silk in a pastel shade makes a crop top all the more wearable. A bottom of the gown or dress with sheer gathers looks wonderful. A gown or even a short dress with long trail of sheer will make you feel like a bride. Sheer can also be added on layers and layers of it giving the dress a stunning 3-D effect. As Abdul Haider suggests, "Anyone in the age group of 16-40 can flaunt sheer fabric dress even to work if it is paired correctly by wearing a proper opaque garment underneath." This summer the trend is all about a subtle hint of sheer sexyness. Moreover, these lightweight, sheer fabrics are perfect for Indian summers.
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A matter of moustaches
Legend
has it that the fad started some years ago when People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) put out an advertisement campaign that depicted a rabbit wearing a fake moustache with the blurb, “You can help stop the killing of animals for their fur by growing your own fur.” That’s when the upper lip hair started going places. Quite literally! Today the style has grown to epic proportions and gone global. In many western countries, the month of November is called Movember (Moustache and November) when guys grow whiskers and women sport fake ones throughout the month to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues, especially testicular and prostate cancer. Moustaches may be used for raising issues like health but today these are also trending as a fun fashion statement. These are no longer just grown on faces. These have begun sprouting on mugs, T-shirts, ties, bottle-openers, key chains, necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, hair clips, cufflinks, footwear, bags, clocks, cushion covers, towels and a thousand other accessories both for him and her.
Trending fashion Indeed, the bushy facial hair is bristling. It looks cute when worn as a pendant or stuck on nails. Clearly the style has surged in popularity even as the fashion of growing real handle bars comes raging back thanks to icons like Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Aamir Khan (in Talaash) and cricketers like Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja. Cashing in on the craze leading online retail stores are hawking a plethora of moustache-related fashion bling. Many offer plain prints of whiskers on clothing, mugs, timepieces and stationery; others display different styles ranging from the fearsome handlebars to walrus, pencil, toothbrush, horseshoe and Fu Manchu moustache styles. The real trendsetters, however, are the T-shirts with moustache stickers and witty slogans like “This is what awesomeness looks like” or “I moustache (slang for ‘must ask’) you a question, but I’ll shave it for later”, or “With great moustache comes great responsibility” and the wittiest of these all “Kiss me right under my (picture of a moustache)”!
Moustache gurus Many social sites give tips on how to sport a moustache in real life for men and as an accessory for women. Type “moustache” on any popular search engine and you would have plenty written on the subject. There are gurus ready with their free guidance on different moustache ideas. There are also tutorials on how to paint moustaches on fingernails and how to bake moustache-shaped cupcakes to enliven a party. For the fashion-driven world, the moustache is everywhere. It is not uncommon to walk into stores such as the American trend-setting Forever 21 (now also in Delhi and Mumbai) and find accessories like brooches, necklaces, wristbands and other trinkets shaped like a man’s thatch of hair between the nose and the lip. When these first became popular as fashion props, moustache-shaped adornments were certainly not for the faint hearted. It required a certain amount of gumption for a girl to wear sunglasses that had moustaches dangling from these, which fitted exactly on the upper lip. Only a few guys showed a predilection of sipping a drink from a whisker wine glass that gave the illusion of a real moustache when the glass was put to the lips.
Dramatic change Things have changed dramatically in the last few years. The upper lip hair has moved on rapidly and is inhabiting apparel, jewellery and accessories with brands and designers thinking of creative ways of making it a true style statement of the young. Many talented manufacturers have gone beyond jewellery and clothing and stepped into the realm of the bizarre. Look around leading speciality stores and chances are you may find clothes hangers that suspiciously look like men’s whiskers, ice trays, safety pins, paper clips, baby pacifiers, wristbands, refrigerator magnets, gift bags, eyeglass cases and even giant moustache car spoilers. Some of this stuff may still not be available in India but be sure, it’s on the way considering the demand for the giftable moustache. In India, the moustache has always been a symbol of royalty best represented by the Air India Maharaja and also a mark of power as seen on the visages of the men from the armed forces. And not to forget the fierce guards who have traditionally stood outside the gates of imposing palaces and royal houses and strike fear with their handlebar moustaches. Now, with the news that some of the world’s top designers are coming out with exclusive moustache collections, it may be time to pick up a thing or two with whiskers on it. And, if you feel odd in the beginning, don’t worry. It will grow on you!
Over the door hangers Price:
Rs 500
Weight and watch Price: Brass and gold finish for
Rs 350 & silver finish Rs 200
Watch with a face Price:
Rs 1,000
Hip flask Pencil toppers Daddy’s mug Price:
Rs 650 onwards
Cushion & cover Price:
Rs 3,640
Bag with monocle Price:
Rs 3,600
Gold bracelet Price:
Rs 300
For your fingertips Price:
Rs 200 for a set of 60 stickers
Ring tone Price:
Rs 200
Hair clips iPhone case Towel set Price:
Rs 2,050
Neckties with whiskers Price:
Rs 1,800 per tie
Dangling keys Price:
Rs 300
On the cuff Price:
Rs 1,650
Silver necklace
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Making a creative hub for children Sreeranjini wanted to set up a hobby store the likes of which she had seen abroad. Thus was born Kavade Attic, a vibrant space for kids with games and books Vibha Sharma A
Bachelors in biotechnology and a Masters in applied genetics, Sreeranjini worked with a couple of bioinformatics companies initially. She then moved on to work at the National Centre for Biological Sciences(NCBS) in Bangalore, to get a hands-on approach to research. While in Melbourne with her husband for a year on sabbatical, she was attracted by hobby stores with interesting and quirky collection of puzzles. These trips sowed the seeds of a dream deep inside her — to establish something on similar lines. After coming back to Bangalore, life science research and NCBS work beckoned her again. She joined it to leave it once again, this time to dispense her motherly duties. She wanted to keep her kids engaged creatively through interesting games but she found that most of the toys and games were noisy, not thought-provoking and were plastic made. She says, “This naturally brought back the memories of my own childhood of simple fun games in the backyard under the trees.” She could not get hold of those old games and after searching hard she spotted some of them in Kreeda which is based out of Chennai. So what began as a search for engaging activities for her own kids ended in Kavade — her dream. Kavade is a store which has loads of ancient board games as well as puzzles and brain teasers. She says, “I was very particular about not having any plastic toys and we have maintained that (exception being packaging for little puzzles and small toys).” To give shape to her idea, she needed to find people who could make the game designs that she had in mind. She met Prof Sudarshan Khanna from NID Ahmedabad, who expressed his desire to be a part of her endeavour. The idea behind Kavade is to revive ancient board games by developing all the games in a contemporary fashion and providing exposure to alternate ways of entertainment. Nalini Jayaram, (from Valley School), who was working with a group in Kanyakumari and making learning aids with palm leaves, approached Sreeranjini to check if Kavade would be interested in taking the same activity up. That was a great positive thrust to Kavade and Sreeranjini started talking to people about the palm-leaf products, worked with the group to make more games and stocked some Kreeda games. Slowly the store grew bigger and better. More and more artisans and groups making creative game designs joined in. The store was officially launched in 2009. Sreeranjini says, “I have been working with people from different parts of Karnataka, Kanyakumari, Madhya Pradesh and Banaras. All our products are made out of wood, fabric or palm leaf. Most of the products are packaged with either palm leaf or fabric with some hand work.” She has launched — Kavade Attic — a vibrant exploratory space for children with loads of games and books. It is a proposed alternative to videogames parlours, engaging children and adults alike. The groups coming together at the Attic will slowly grow into a community with similar sensibilities. The space has a café too. Sreeranjini shares her plan, “This is a very niche group that we are targeting and I am not in favour of franchise because although it makes business sense but I’d lose touch with my customers and I personally feel that the idea gets diluted.” Sreeranjini is helped by an assistant but her unseen workforce is her family and friends who join her for big and small events, for manning the stalls and for brainstorming. She is happy that she has been able to offer an environment where people can come and spend time, chat about each other's work and build a long lasting relationship. Making available games and puzzles which are fast getting extinct, is her wonderful gift to the society.
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GRECIAN RETREAT
Price: Room at Canaves Oia Hotel starts at
Rs 46,200 a night ($770)
ULTIMATE SMARTPHONE
Price:
Rs 37,800 ($630)
LEAD KINDLY LIGHT
Price:
Rs 19,800 ($330)
SKYRIDER
Price:
Rs 2.37 crore ($395,000)
(Price includes training to fly the Helicycle)
ROCKING THE AIRWAVES
Price:
Rs 24,000 ($400)
MINI MUSIC TO THE EARS
Price:
Rs 21,000 ($350)
DOGGIE’S a jetsetter
Price:
Rs 22,500 ($375)
GOBLETS WITH A TOUCH OF GOLD
Price:
Rs 1.80 lakh for a set of seven ($3,000)
TEE TIME FOR BMW
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This ultra-thin and semi-transparent fabric has become one of the hottest fashion trends of the year
mugs,
T-shirts, ties, bottle-openers, key chains, necklaces, and many
other accessories, both for guys and gals
A
Make the most of your over the door hooks by having some funky characters with moustaches hanging off them. Just slip these hooks over the door. Available at www.designempoia.com not only will they add a little bit of extra storage to your room but also a dash of quirky and fun element as well.
This pair of moustache-shaped paperweights from Gurgaon-based Devi Design Studio will give a designer edge to your desktop at home or in office. You don’t want both of them. You can choose between the paperweight with brass and gold finish or the aluminum-and-silver finish one.
This analogue watch featuring a moustache face and a croc-embossed faux leather band will make you look stylish without even trying. Available at Forever 21 stores, the lightweight timepiece with its polish finish, matches a lot of outfits and can be worn to work, night out or just about everywhere. 
Whether you’re a gentleman with an elaborate moustache or just a fan of the handlebars, this stainless-steel hip flask on offer at online store www.johnlewis.com will have you carry one in your pocket. The moustache with a witty text is guaranteed to give you that extra kick! 
Join the moustache community with the eraser pencil toppers. Simply pop on to the pencil and you have a hilarious pencil-with-eraser set. Featuring the classic handlebar style, these marvellous pencils are comical, practical and so stylish that these will make life a barrel of laughs for most students and scribblers. 
The moustache mug is just the perfect Father’s Day gift for your dad’s morning cup of tea. Available in a wide variety of colours, this mug can also be personalised with the receiver’s name or message. The added benefit is you can see how your dad would look with a moustache every time he takes a sip!
This handmade square envelope cushion and cover called the Rustic Man is made out of cotton linen with the handlebar moustache sewn over with beads. On offer at the online shopping site www.roomstory.com, the stylish cover will add oomph to your furnishings and become an instant conversation starter.
This bag is made from canvas with a leather flap in tan. Available on www.etsy.com, it has a leather moustache in black and antique brass grommet and chain for the monocle. The right eye is made of antique brass and there is a snap fastener for closure. The bag comes with a detachable faux suede strap.
This bracelet from DressBerry available on www.myntra.com makes a quirky and fun style statement. Wear it with casuals for a unique and happening look. The gold-coloured bracelet with an open back has a stylish handlebar moustache shape in front with black inlay making it an ultra trendy accessory.
These 3D nail art moustache stickers are for the girls who want to look stylish and be the envy of their friends. Wear this cute and creative art that will make your hands and fingers stand out. Real attention grabbers, these itsy-bitsy stickers give your nails a peppy and instant makeover. 
Girls, grace your finger with this charming black coloured handlebar moustache ring from Miss Bennett available at www.jabong.com. It will instantly and effortlessly fetch you limelight at any party. This beautifully designed ring is rust-resistant and long-lasting, courtesy its brass craftsmanship.
No lady can resist a manly moustache especially when it is meant to adorn her hair. This moustache hair clip sold on www.etsy.com is composed of two layers of vinyl, stuffed with a little polyfill for texture and it is attached to a French clip. It comes in a variety of colours to go with different shades of attire. 
You are sure to have the best-dressed iPhone with this moustache case. Designed for iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5S and 5C with openings for the camera, this slim case is made of plastic and gives your iPhone complete protection. Available online on various websites, it is sure to bring a smile on the face of your friends. 
Have some fun in your bathroom with these moustache hand towels. Available on www.etsy.com the white set of towels is made of 100 per cent cotton and measure 16"x26". The towels would look great in a man’s bathroom, next to the shaving kit or for use during a moustache themed party.
These screen-printed neckties available on www.etsy.com depict imperial, handlebar, horseshoe and pencil styles of moustaches which are shown being chased by combs rushing to tidy them up. Available in a variety of colours these are made of a soft microfibre and printed with high-quality, non-toxic colour. 
Guys, if you haven’t grown a moustache, then this keychain is just for you! Available on www.amazon.com, it makes a unique yet practical gift. It is composed of two layers of brown genuine leather sewn together by machine. The pendant dangles from metal key ring giving it a unique style.
Featuring a stylish moustache detail, these cufflinks by British company Highland Angel are a great finishing touch to a well-dressed man. These make a fabulous gift for the Father’s Day or as a wedding present for the groom. These come in a smart black presentation box with a hinged lid and white satin lining.
Stand out this season with this vintage style necklace. This quirky moustache dangles from a vintage chain and makes an awesome necklace. Available on www.linksoflondon.com, this sterling silver necklace is an outstanding piece of jewellery and you can get matching moustache ring and earrings as well.
When you see Santorini for the first time the stunning sights of this Greek island in the Aegean Sea will simply take your breath away. Forged in its present form by a devastating volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, it is now one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean. And the stunning scenery seems even better when you see it from Canaves Oia Hotel. The hotel's charm is greatly enhanced by its perfect location, as it sits on top of a cliff which offers breathtaking views. The glittering blue waves, the perfect sunny weather and the medieval charms of the town of Oia with its white walls, blue rooftops and an all-pervasive calm will simply overwhelm you. Truly, if there is a paradise on earth, this is it!
Move over Apple and Samsung, the Blackphone is here. Launched by Spanish start-up Geeksphone, it is one of the most secure smartphones that will be of immense use to high rollers who seek complete privacy. The mobile enables users to make encrypted phone calls, send encrypted texts and browse the web anonymously without fear of an attack by hackers. With its own operating system, the Blackphone comes equipped with a 2 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB DDR3 RAM, 16 GB hard drive with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and a GPS. The surprisingly reasonably priced phone can offer the ultimate in privacy to celebrities and politicians who dread communication breaches.
Flashlights and torches are very handy during power cuts or on treks. But there are some which do more than just spread light in the dark. They can illuminate in the most wondrous ways. Take the case of Gobe Flashlights by American company Light & Motion. It has six interchangeable light heads —two spotlights, a wide-angle light, a red light, a searchlight, and a light for use underwater at night — apart from a wide range of accessories. The flashlight allows a user to choose the best option for a specific activity. The torch also comes with an underwater photography mount and a handlebar mount for a bicycle. But a word of warning. If you covet this flashlight do not be taken aback by its price tag. Special things in life are never inexpensive. 
Don't we all hate traffic jams? Yes we all do. But the next time you are stuck in one you can just take off. Provided you are driving a Helicycle. Launched by an American company Eagle, this two-seat vehicle converts from a three-wheeled motorcycle to a gyrocopter in minutes. A 230-hp, four-cylinder engine powers the craft to a maximum 180 kmph in the air or on the road. So, in case you were planning to buy a Lamborghini or a Ferrari you now have another option — buying a flying mobike instead.
It’s a blast from the past. With its walnut cabinet, a slew of buttons and rotary volume control, it looks like a music box from the 1950s. But the Revo Super Connect Radio is far from a retro music box. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a system more futuristic than this one. Like any true radio, it features tuners and a built-in Wi-Fi for connecting to thousands of Internet radio stations. It also has the facility to stream your entire digital music collection from your PC, smartphone or tablet. And such is its output quality that even normal music will sound high definition with a surround-sound effect.
A piano can be the ultimate style statement. But beware. If you have a piano in your house you had better know how to play it. If not, then it is best to start small. The Korg Mini Piano is a great option. But don't mistake it for kid stuff. This is a miniature version of an upright piano. It even has a fallboard just as in an adult piano. It has a 25-note keyboard that allows you to learn and play deep rich tones with the stable pitch you expect from a digital piano. It also has 25 additional built-in tones such as electric piano, clarinet, organ, bell and music box to keep you toe-tapping happy before graduating to bigger things. 
When was the last time you took your doggie to a shopping mall or a vacation with you? Perhaps never. But now you can do so with style, thanks to Tumi. The American company which has a long tradition of crafting beautiful bags and travel accessories for people has now added dogs and cats as its clients. The new collection has been designed to make travel stylish and comfortable for your furry friend. The highlight of the collection is a special Travel Carrier which is equipped with air vents, expandable width, plush lining and pockets. The shoulder strap also detaches to double up as a leash and there's a special pocket for a ticket and boarding pass, making the doggie a true jetsetter.
What is it that distinguishes a classy dinner set from a run-of-the-mill one? A table decorated with hand-blown crystal pieces. And what better style to flaunt than goblets by Vetro Vero, the American company known for its stunning designs? The company has launched its 2014 Lilac collection, comprising goblets with 24-karat gold leaf details. These Venetian-inspired goblets are hand-blown and signed by Vetro Vero's Italian founder and designer Michael Schunke. Whether you plan on using them or just presenting them, these goblets will put you in a league of your own.
What is the favourite pastime of people who drive a BMW? The answer is golf, or so the company would have us believe. The German auto major recently launched a BMW Golf Bag, with ample space for clubs and several special compartments including a weatherproof-lined pocket for valuables. The aluminium stand is equipped with a solid base to prevent the bag from sinking into the ground. It also has a very useful zipless ball pocket for optimum access to spare balls and tees. All that a golf enthusiast has to do is to take the bag out of the BMW boot and tee off.